Michigan and Michigan State have played each other so often, it’s getting old. The two teams have now met four times in the past two months — and the Wolverines have won every game, including tonight’s 6-2 victory in Joe Louis Arena.

Michigan has won blowouts and come-from-behind thrillers. It has won in Ann Arbor, East Lansing and Detroit. No matter what, no matter where, the Wolverines seem to have the Spartans’ number.

Tonight was no different.

Michigan capitalized on key scoring chances to put the game out of reach by midway through the second frame. Though their power play looked somewhat lethargic when on the ice, the Wolverines took advantage of the weak Michigan State defense to score all the goals they needed — and more.

Michigan coach Red Berenson brought back the sophomore trio of Carl Hagelin, Matt Rust and Aaron Palushaj, who played as the second line most of last season. Palushaj had been playing on the top line with center Louie Caporusso until this week when Berenson moved him to right wing on Rust’s line.

About five minutes into the game, that switch paid dividends. Hagelin passed the puck to Palushaj, who was situated between the blue line and left center. Palushaj fired a high shot towards the goal, and Rust redirected it down into the right corner of the net past Spartan goalie Jeff Lerg.

It marked the first time this season that Michigan scored first in a game against Michigan State.

But the Spartans responded quickly, opening the second period with a slapshot goal of their own.

Less than six minutes into the second frame, goals from senior forward Danny Fardig and Hagelin put the game away for the Wolverines. Fardig’s tally gave the fourth line its second goal in as many games — the first coming in Michigan’s 1-0 win over Bowling Green.

In the third, Caporusso added a pair of goals to give Michigan a nice cushion. Caporusso is currently the top scorer in the nation with 20 goals on the season.

Even when Michigan State showed a sign of life with a Dustin Gazley goal late in the third, the Wolverines responded well — with two tallies of their own.

The Spartans haven’t scored more than four goals in any contest this season, and with their power-play unit forced to defend their own zone more than it could attack, they really couldn’t get much going tonight.

Michigan’s six goals were more than enough to put the Spartans away. Fans agreed, leaving in throngs before the final buzzer.

Tomorrow night, the teams will meet for the fifth time this season. Lerg told the media last week that Michigan State is hungry and hates to go a season without a win over Michigan. Tomorrow could be his last shot to do so.